UNDP Turkey launched a new project aiming at improving resource efficiency in agriculture and agro-based industries in the Southeast Anatolia Region (GAP Region) with a holistic and multidisciplinary approach. The project is coordinated by UNDP Turkey and GAP Regional Development Administration and supported by the RBEC Catalytic and Scaling-up Facility 2016 which is executed by UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub for Europe and the CIS. By UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, the initiative is considered to serve as replicable and scalable model for the other countries in the region.

Efficient use of resources in economic activities is prioritized in the 10th National Development Plan as well as through the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The project addresses efficient use of resources such as land, soil, water, energy, raw material, technology and human capital in the economic production processes which in hence contributes to sustainable development and competitive advantage of the GAP Region. The project will serve as a model which illustrate how environmental sustainability and socio-economic development can work hand-in-hand.

The project will develop a strategic framework on integrated resource efficiency in agriculture and agro-based industries for GAP Region. Pilot projects will be conceptualized which could be replicated in other sectors and regions as well as scaled up to national policy level. The capacity development component will also contribute to the sustainability of the project outputs at the institutional level. The project will benefit from UNDP’s vast experience on rural development, agricultural clustering, gender mainstreaming, energy efficiency and renewable energy, total factor productivity, biodiversity and ecosystem services.